Fresh Picks to Follow – Fitness Fanatic

Every year at this time, there is always an influx of news articles, blog posts and tweets regarding staying fit and getting healthier in the new year.  So I thought that it was only fitting that I create a fitness related Fresh Picks to Follow.  I enjoy working out and buying new workout clothes and gadgets to that help me stay motivated to exercise at my peak performance. For this week Fresh Picks to Follow, here’s my top 10 workout essentials that will help you stay on track this year.  Is working out and staying fit on your new year’s resolution list? How do you plan to stay motivated all year long?  Let me know in the comments.

1. Gap - GapFit gFast Colorblock Capris…$49.95

2. Zumba - Flaunt It Fancy Top…$30.00

3. Puma - Heritage Grip Bag…$60.00

4. Asics - GEL-Blur33® TR…$90.00

5. Athleta - Peek Tank…$59.00

6. Garmin - Forerunner 10 GPS Fitness Monitor…$129.95

7. Adidas - StellaMcCartney Tennis Performance Shorts…$40.00

8. Lululemon - Scuba Hoodie *Stretch…$108.00

9. Nike - Nike+ Fuelband…$149.00

10. Reebok - CrossFit Gloves…$50.00

Race Recap: Stadium Run

Hiya everyone!  Last night I ran in a football stadium to help raise money for the local athletic programs. The local school board made the decision to cut the funding of some high school sports programs, including cross country.  These sports programs will only survive if the community supports them.  Are any of the school districts experiencing this in your local hometowns?

Have you ever ran in a football stadium before?  I did it in high school and it was torture because my track team ran the stairs - often.  So, imagine my fear when my running partner told me about this race.   I immediately said heck no.  When I finally read the details, I was happy to find out that there were no stairs involved, BUT there were ramps. I figured that I could deal with that. 

Here were the race details: it started around the practice field and stadium.  We then went up all seven ramps of the stadium to the top and down four ramps to the mezzanine level.  We then went around the stadium again and back up four ramps to the top and down all seven ramps to the field.  We then ran a loop around the field and then exited to the finish line.  It was a brutal race, but pretty fun.  When we went out to the field, all of the monitors were playing football highlights…I loved it. 

There were 1384 total race finishers and 712 female finishers.   I came in 15th in my age group and I was the 117th female finisher overall.  My official chip time was 28:42.  The race was great and I was pretty pleased with my time and stats.  I was also happy to learn today that the race organizers were able to raise the money required to save the running programs in the local schools with the help of the running community.  I’m so glad to know that I live in a supportive city.

xoxo Natasha

Race Recap: 3 Races in 24 Hours

Hiya ladies!  I hope that you all are having a great week so far.  I didn’t have a chance to post my recap about my races from this past weekend.   On Friday and Saturday, I ran in the Tour de Pain which consisted of 3 races in 24 hours.  This was a very unique event. The series starts with a 4 mile beach run on Friday evening, continues with a 5K road race Saturday morning and finishes with a 1 Mile Sizzler on Saturday evening!  This race was probably the craziest race I ever entered in.  I thought it would be fun and I really wanted to challenge myself a little bit more. 

In the extreme heat, over 1,000 people started the first race on Friday night running 4 miles on the beach.  I honestly don’t remember how hot it was that day, but it was hot and humid.  It started to cool down once the race started at 7:00pm, but the humidity really zapped the life out of me.  There were 1,009 total race finishers and 519 female finishers.   I came in 27th in my age group and I was the 205th female finisher overall.  My official chip time was 40:59.  I was pretty happy with my stats considering how hot it was during the race.  I didn’t run as fast I wanted to run, but it was the first race.  And I had time to make up the difference with the other races.  This race was pretty tough.  It took me a couple of days to recover since I was so sore.  Something happened to my body after the beach run.  I just hurt all over.

Very humid - even at 6:45am

The next race started at 7:00am on Saturday morning.  This race was a 5k through a quiet neighborhood.  This race was particularly special to me because my mother ran her first race with me.  I didn’t think that she was going to run the whole thing, but she did it. I’m so proud of her…Go Mom!  The 5k was pretty easy because of the flat route.  In this race there were 1,023 total race finishers and 527 female finishers.   I came in 26th in my age group and I was the 183rd female finisher overall.  My official chip time was 28:59.  I was a little disappointed in my stats here because I ran this course in a previous race and I had a better chip time.

The final race was on Saturday evening at 4:30pm and the title of this race was the 1 mile sizzler.  And boy was it a sizzler.  It was so hot outside that the weather really felt like it you were in a sauna.  I went to the race location with sunscreen on my body and my sweat started taking it off before I even started running.   My mom was still pretty amped up from the race in the morning so, she decided to participate in the 1 mile race.  She’s such a trooper. She motivated to run in more races with me in the near future.  Anyways, I ran my hardest during this race because I figured it would be quick and easy.  There were 956 total race finishers and 480 female finishers.   I came in 30th in my age group and I was the 197th female finisher overall.  My official chip time in this race was 8:12.6.

Overall, I would run in this race again.  It was a fun challenge and I would like to improve my stats next year.

OXOX Natasha

My Cardio Workout Routine

Hi everyone.  I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend.  I know that I did.  I had an awesome workout on Saturday and went for a run on Sunday.  I have been running and working out lately with the goal of running little faster and getting toned overall.  My running fever began earlier this year when I competed in the Gate River Run in March.  And I’ve been a crazy running girl ever since. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked about my workout routine.  So, I figured that I would share it here with you all on my blog.  Today, I’ll post my cardio workout routine and then post my weight training routine a little later.  Lately, I have been able workout in some fashion for about 4-5 days a week.  I try to run at least 4 days a week and I usually run about 3 miles.  In addition to my runs, I go to the gym and attend classes like Spinning, TRX, Boot Camp and sometimes Zumba.  When I can’t make it to the gym, I usually turn to my Jillian Michaels DVD – 30 Day Shred, but I feel like I need more workout videos.  You know, to change things up a little.

I’m not sure about you, but I have always been interested in getting one of those in-home workout videos that you see on TV.   I usually watch the whole infomercial, but I never pick up the phone to call.   I’m currently looking into purchasing a new workout program, so I went over to the Beachbody website to look up a few programs that stood out in my mind.  Do you have any favorites?  Here are a few of them that I am researching:

P90X

I had some experience with P90X in the past and I loved it. I think that the muscle confusion that Tony Horton refers to in his videos really works. I was able to borrow my brother-in-law’s DVDs a few years ago and I was very happy with the results.  I didn’t follow the fitness guide and nutrition plan at the time, so I only saw limited results.  However, I did lose some weight and that made me happy.    

Insanity

Shaun T’s Insanity workout program looks very intense and intimidating, but I’m pretty sure that I could do it.  The workout program is a 60 day total body conditional program filled with plyometric drills.  There is even a 30-day money back guarantee, so there is no harm in trying it  right?  I recently went over to Jenny’s blog (Not Just a Pretty Face) to get an update on her progress with the Insanity workout.  Jenny is going into her 3rd week and she seems very pleased with her result so far.  I might have to try this one.

TurboFire

I just learned about this workout program while doing my online research.  This program looks as intense as P90X and Insanity.  The TurboFire workout includes Fire Drills which is also known as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).  The workout is lead by Chalene Johnson and promises to burn 9x more fat and calories than a traditional cardio workout.  That’s my kind of workout.

Brazilian Butt Lift 

My body type is pear shaped and I have always been considered curvy.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love my curves, but I don’t love my large hips and saddlebags.  I have always battled this problem area, but I don’t always see any results.  This workout program seems like it would be the best solution for me. 

Here are a couple of other products by Beachbody that are currently being filmed and tested - Tai Cheng and Body Beast.  I can’t wait to learn more details about these workouts. Have you tried any of the Beachbody workout programs and did you have any success?  Do you have any advice for me? I would love to hear about it – let me know!

OXOX Natasha

Images courtesy of Beachbody.

Race Recap: Run for Pies - 5k

Two weeks ago I ran for a pie in the Run for the Pies 5k.   I decided to enter in this race because of the long history of the race and the chance to win several prizes.  The race has been in existence for about 33 years and is well-known for the 200 free pies given out at the finish line.  The men won a pie if they ran the 5k race in under 20:00 minutes and the women won a pie if they ran the race in under 24:00 minutes.   Sadly, I didn’t qualify for the free pie…I’m not that fast yet.  I don’t know if I ever will be that fast, but I’m sure going to try.

I arrived at the race location about 20 minutes early to see the elite runners compete the Nike 5k Championship.  These runners were invited to compete in this championship race based on previous race times.  The runners received Nike running sneakers as their prize in this special race.  The men had to run under 16:15 and the women had to run under 19:00 to qualify for the free shoes.  It was pretty amazing to watch these runners really move their stuff.  They really made it look it effortless.   The first male finished the race in 15:07 and the first woman finished in 16:45.  Way to go!

After the championship race, the race opened up to everyone else to qualify for the free pie.   Although the race didn’t start until 8:00pm, it was probably over 90 degrees when the race started.  The course was not what I expected for this race.  It was very uneven with a couple of small hills and the streets were covered with pot holes through out downtown.  There were 1429 total race finishers - 737 females and 692 males.  Despite the heat, I managed to finish the race in 29:02.  I was pretty pleased with that time considering that I stopped to walk for a little bit.  I just couldn’t catch my breath. 

This was my first time running in this race and I would definitely sign up for it again.  There was a big post race celebration after the race where the awards were handed out and the some other giveaways.  There was even a pie eating contest, just in case you didn’t win a pie in the race. 

OXOX Natasha

Race Recap: Memorial Day 5k

I ran in a Memorial Day 5k on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 8:00am.  I woke up around 6:30am to eat breakfast, hydrate with some water and stretch with plenty of time to spare before the race.  There were 1019 total race finishers and 533 female finishers.   My official chip time was 29:24.  I was a little disappointed about my stats since I wanted my time to decrease from the previous race.  However, I have learned that my time may decrease after some more races and practice runs.  I have to learn to be patient and not force it right away. 

This race was fairly large considering it was in a smaller nearby town.  There was a local running group that hosted and dominated this race.  This race was pretty easy.  Most of the course was flat, except for a small hill in the last mile.  There were plenty of water stations and community support throughout the court.  Unfortunately, there were no race clocks on the course to help me gauge my time.  I definitely need to buy a stop watch to help me along in my races.  I’m hoping that having a watch may help me speed up my pace and eventually decrease my time.  Well, there is always something that happens in my races that I think affects how well I do.  And this race was no different.  During the last ¾ of a mile, my iPod just stalled and would not reboot.  Has this ever happened to you?  I have grown so accustomed to listening to music and zoning out while I run, that I was distracted by everything around me.   I’m thinking about getting one of those iPod shuffles just for running.  Do any of you have one of these?  Let me know how you like it.

OXOX Natasha

Race Recap: Never Quit Beach Fest 5k

I ran in the Never Quit Beach Fest 5k on May 21, 2011.  We started the race early in the evening at 5:00pm on what felt like one of the hottest days of the year.  It was 93 degrees on the beach.  I had to work early in the morning, but I left early so I can make it to beach for the race.  I rushed home to change and made myself a pre-run snack - a cinnamon bagel with peanut butter and some Gatorade.  I left my place with I thought was enough time to spare, but it took me longer to get to the location than I expected.  The traffic to the beach was ridiculous and the parking was almost nonexistent.  I drove around for about 20 minutes looking for parking until I stalked someone walking to back to their car.  At this point it was about 4:30pm and I was about 7 blocks away from the start line and I hadn’t even picked up my race packet yet.  Luckily, by the time I met up with my friend, Maria, I had about 10 minutes to spare to get lined up.  We weren’t able to get towards the front of the start line, because of the large crowd.  There were about 5,000 people running on the beach so getting past the start line was a very slow.

The first 2/3 of the race was okay, but it was super hot.  I started out running in the 9:00 mile paces and I crossed the first mile at 9:15.  Mile 2 was a little harder and I had to tell myself to “keep going!”  I starting breathing very hard after mile 1 up until the halfway mark and then I had to walk in order to catch my breath.  I started to feel a little nauseous and light-headed, but I figured it was because of the extreme humidity and the sun blaring down on us.  I ended up passing the 2 mile clock at about 19:50.  During the last mile, my pace slowed to about 11 or 12-minute mile and I was huffing and puffing and I stopped to walk every few minutes.  I think that the heat and running on the beach really effected my time. Even though the sand was hard-packed, it was a little difficult to run the whole way. 

I crossed the finish line at 31:44 L - this was certainly not my personal best and I wasn’t pleased with my performance. As I’ve mentioned before, all races are not equal.  The final stats on the website posted that the race had 4191 total finishers – 1294 male finishers and 2897 female finishers.  This was a great race that I would be happy to participate in again next year – maybe it won’t be so hot.  What I loved most about the Never Quit Beach Fest 5k Race was how many people came out to support such a wonderful cause.  The Never Quit mission is to educate the community on how to avoid brain bleeds, stroke and heart disease through healthy life choices and to encourage everyone to take on a Never Quit attitude and live life to its fullest.   

OXOX Natasha

Race Recap: Marty’s Run 5k

I ran in the Marty’s 5k Run on May 14th and I had a great time.  It was a gorgeous day for a race.  The Marty’s Run benefited Memories of Love, which is a non-profit organization for families whose parents are battling a life-threatening illness.  Check out the website if you want to learn more about this great organization.  The weather was pretty warm that morning, but it was not unbearable.  The race itself was just okay - the course was very simple because the road was flat the whole way and it went through a cute little neighborhood. 

I’m not sure where I finished overall because the race officials split the result between men and women.  There were 346 total race finishers and 199 female finishers.   I came in 4th in my age group and I was the 36th female finisher overall.  My official chip time was 28:12.  I was a little disappointed about my stats since I wanted my time to decrease from the previous race.  It just goes to show you that no matter what kind of 5k race you run in, there are no two 5ks that are the same.  There are so many factors that can impact the outcome of a race, like the weather, how much rest you had the night before, sneakers, playlist/music.  This list can go on and on.  This race in particular, I ran too fast for the first 2 miles and just gave out during the 3rd mile.  I realized after this race that I need to work on my pacing over the next few weeks.

OXOX Natasha

Fresh Picks to Follow: Running Apparel

Hiya ladies – Happy Friday!  I hope that you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend planned.  I only have a couple of things planned for the weekend which includes a 5k race tomorrow afternoon and a baptism to attend on Sunday.  Anyways, since the weather has been warming up over the past few weeks, I’ve been running and working out a lot more.  I’ve also been updating my workout wardrobe.  So, I thought it would be appropriate to write a post regarding running fashion.

As you brave your first run on the treadmill or compete in your first race, you may want to reconsider your workout wardrobe. You may not think about it, but style is a key issue when it comes to running or working out.  The right running apparel not only ensures that you feel confident when you pound the pavement, but it will aide your performance and help you feel comfortable.  Here are my top 10 running apparel pieces for this week’s Fresh Pick to Follow.  What is your favorite piece of running apparel? Do you own any of the items that I listed below?  Let me know what you think. 

1. Adidas - Supernova Racer Bra…$35.00

2. Saucony - Women's Run Lux Short Sleeve…$35.00

3. WrightSock – SLR Low Quarter Sock…$10.00

4. C9 by Champion - Women's Running Shorts…$14.99

5. Lululemon - Run: Speed Skirt…$58.00

6. Under Armour - Escape Get Started Tank…$29.99

7. Adidas - ULT WO Tee…$20.00

8. Nike - Tempo Track Women's Running Shorts…$15.97 (was $28.00)

9. Under Armour - Form Loose Capri…$44.99

10.  Puma - Large Logo Tank Top…$23.00

OXOX Natasha

Fitness: A Couple of 5k Races – My Recap

I’ve been in a couple of 5k races over the past few weeks and I didn’t have a chance to post my progress. 

The first race that I completed was an early evening race that started at 6:30pm on April 21, 2011.   The weather was a balmy 92 degrees and very humid.  Overall, the race was fun and the race course was pretty simple – it was mostly a flat surface.   However, there wasn’t any cold water to drink until the end of the race.  During the race, there was only warm water after 1.50 miles…it was miserable.  Despite the water mishap, I finished 289 overall and my time was 30:57.  I was pretty happy about my stats considering the weather and lack of water.  There were 2996 total race finishers and 1668 female finishers.  

The next race that I completed went much better than the last one.  I improved my time, my pace and I even won an award.   This particular race was designed for women only, but there were a handful of men that ended up participating.  Anyways, I woke up pretty early on April 30, 2011 to meet my running partner at 8:00am.  I was able to make myself a small protein smoothie that kept me energized throughout the race.  The race started at 8:30am and to my surprise I finished 31st overall out of 270 total race finishers.  My time improved to 27:57 and I also came in first place in my age group.

I plan to enter another race this Saturday and I’m hoping that my time improves again – so, we’ll see.

OXOX Natasha